Coating Line Team Lead

Apogee Enterprises, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOG), was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Apogee is a growing, profitable company with annual revenues approaching $1.5 billion. We provide distinctive metal and glass solutions for enclosing commercial buildings, and glass and acrylic solutions for picture framing and display applications. To learn more visit: www.apog.com.

The Apogee Performance Surfaces segment has grown from $100M to $200M in revenue through a recent acquisition. Our brands in the Performance Surfaces portfolio develop and manufacture high-performance coated materials for a variety of applications, including wall decor, museums, graphic design, architectural interiors, digital display, and industrial flooring markets. We are the global leader in anti-reflective, conservation grade electrostatic dissipative, high-definition, and abrasion resistance coatings, that provide protection, innovative designs, and exceptional durability.

Position Summary

The Coating Line Team Lead is a hands-on leadership role responsible for the safe, high-quality, and efficient operation of the Coating Line. This position spends the majority of time working alongside the team in production while also providing day-to-day direction, coaching, and problem solving. The Coating Line Team Lead serves as the primary point of ownership on shift for safety, quality, delivery, and productivity. They coordinate daily activities, adjust labor and priorities in real time, support troubleshooting and continuous improvement, and act as a key link between the production team, Supervisor, Maintenance, and support functions. This role is a pipeline for future technical and supervisory leadership.

Responsibilities

• Safety & Compliance
  • Lead by example in personal and team safety, ensuring compliance with all safety policies and procedures.
  • Enforce proper PPE usage and Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) compliance.
  • Assist with Job Safety Analyses (JSAs), hazard identification, and corrective actions.
  • Stop work and escalate safety concerns as needed.
• Production & Operations (Hands-On)
  • Perform and support standard work across sanding, coating, inspection, material handling, and packing as required.
  • Lead daily startup, changeovers, calibrations, line testing, and recipe verification.
  • Coordinate work assignments and labor flexing to meet daily production goals.
  • Monitor throughput, downtime, and flow; take immediate action to mitigate losses.
  • Own the Coating Line from raw material input through finished product delivery.
• Quality
  • Ensure all process and product quality standards are met or exceeded.
  • Perform routine quality checks and verify adherence to SOPs and control plans.
  • Support root cause analysis and corrective actions for quality issues.
  • Drive first-pass yield (FPY) improvement and defect reduction.
• Leadership & Team Development
  • Provide real-time direction, coaching, and support to HPWT team members.
  • Assist with onboarding, cross-training, and skill qualification of team members.
  • Reinforce standard work, accountability, and ownership on the floor.
  • Lead shift huddles and support communication across the team.
• Continuous Improvement & Problem Solving
  • Lead and participate in continuous improvement (CI) activities.
  • Identify process, equipment, and workflow improvement opportunities.
  • Facilitate small experiments, trials, and data collection.
  • Update and maintain the Problem Log, GEMBA board, and visual management tools.
  • Tag and document downtime events in SCADA and track actions to closure.
• Equipment & Maintenance Coordination
  • Interface with Maintenance to submit, prioritize, and follow up on work orders.
  • Support troubleshooting of equipment and process issues.
  • Ensure cleanliness, 5S, and audit readiness of the Coating Line.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Communicate effectively with Supervisors, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Scheduling.
  • Support audits, SOP development, and process documentation updates.
  • Participate in cross-departmental improvement initiatives as needed.

Personal Attributes and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical degree or certification preferred.
• 2-5 years of manufacturing experience; coating or continuous process experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence in a team-based environment.
• Strong safety mindset and working knowledge of LOTO and PPE requirements.
• Solid mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Basic computer proficiency (Epicor, SCADA, RHEO or similar systems).
• Ability to safely operate a forklift; must be able to obtain and maintain company forklift certification.
• Willingness to flex between production, technical, and material handling responsibilities based on team needs.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to flex across roles and support team needs.
• Experience with coating application, E-Beam curing, or quality control strongly preferred.

Work Environment

• Manufacturing environment with exposure to coatings, wood dust, noise, and moving equipment.
• Requires prolonged standing, walking, bending, and lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Flexible scheduling, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by operational needs.

Apogee and our brands are an Equal Opportunity Employer.